There are few sounds as terrible as crunching metal to an off-road enthusiast, which is precisely why New York City chose that method to send a message about illegal dirt bikes, unregistered vehicles, and uninsured riders.
Turns out they weren’t the only city to take this approach.
Crushing Dirt Bikes in Providence, Rhode Island
Don’t expect to drive your ATV or dirt bike on the road illegally in Providence, Rhode Island without facing stiff action. At the end of June 2018, the city destroyed confiscated dirt bikes and ATVs to send a message to the public, and we received it loud and clear.
The city officials gathered together at the public works building and destroyed a total of 27 recreational vehicles. This includes dirt bikes and ATVs that had been seized by the police department.
Technically, they had every right to do what they wanted with the vehicles. Back in 2017, City Council approved an ordinance that allowed officials to confiscate non-street legal vehicles that are a nuisance to others, and after that it’s all fair game.
Mayor Jorge Elorza was quoted as saying that the city plans to send a “clear message” and that they won’t put up with “illegal operation of dirt bikes and ATVs” on the streets. He believes that the so-called “risky” activity disrupts citizens and creates safety concerns for the city. Because of that, he plans to continue cracking down to make the roadways safer.
By 2018, the city had confiscated 46 vehicles since they first put the ordinance in place.
Providence Isn’t the Only One
Sadly, this isn’t the only instance of this type of behavior occurring. Cities across the nation take part in crackdowns on off-road vehicles continuously. In 2017, Washington, D.C. officials sent 62 bikes and ATVs to the crusher. Back in 2016, New York City officials did the same thing.
In New York in 2016, they sent 69 dirt bikes and 8 four-wheelers to meet the end. Bill Bratton, the Police Commissioner, had a pretty good time at the event. He waved a black and white checkered flag as two bulldozers got to work. In his statement, Bratton claimed to be proud of the message he sent to “nitwits and knuckleheads who insist on operating these illegal vehicles.”
Looking on the internet quickly reveals that this is a phenomenon happening across the country. Dirt bikes and other recreational vehicles are often being classified as dangerous weapons in the same realm as an illegal gun.
Is it just us, or is that a stretch?
Hot Take: Violence Is Not the Answer
Upon hearing about this latest rash of needless violence, we called a staff meeting to figure out exactly where we stand. The following is our opinion on the matter.
As a group of red-blooded enthusiasts with gasoline in our veins, we certainly have firsthand experience with the sort of “nitwits and knuckleheads” they’re referring to. In some cases, it’s been us.
We also know that the value of a Yamaha Banshee in running condition is a lot higher when it hasn’t been run over by a bulldozer.
How many times in history have priceless artifacts been destroyed because someone wanted to send a message? Not that any of these vehicles are priceless, but each one could potentially be sold to a kid who it would mean the world to, or at very least parted out to keep other machines going.
Impounding illegal dirt bikes and ATVs is the message. Destroying them is a PR stunt.
These are vehicles which will now be melted down instead of being broken down into parts to repair countless other vehicles. That’s if we’re lucky, by the way. The might simply get thrown away instead of being recycled, left to rot in a landfill, which is a separate problem in itself.
Destroying these vehicles is wasteful, pointless, and only serves to make those “nitwits and knuckleheads” feel even more alienated by their own politicians than those 1950’s insults did.
What Should You Do?
If your ride is confiscated by a police officer, you might not be able to get it back. This is something to consider when you head out on the street and a reason you should only drive a street legal bike on the road. Thankfully, it’s easier than ever before to make your dirt bike street legal.
Back in 2016, Miami police impounded 59 bikes and ATVs. Thankfully they chose to allow owners to receive their equipment back, but people had to pay $150 and show proof of ownership to do so.
Some people might have a garage full of bikes and vehicles that they purchased without titles. That’s just par for the course when it comes to finding low-cost dirt bikes to enjoy, especially in states that don’t issue titles for them.
Still, if this happens to you and you don’t have a title or other ownership document, your bike could be headed for the shredder. How do you help protect yourself from this happening?
The Answer: Make Your Dirt Bike Street Legal
For starters, you should get a Bill of Sale receipt with "Paid in Full" marked on it when you purchase the bike or ATV. This doesn’t just help you gain access to your bike if something happens, but it prevents the seller from claiming you stole it later. If the bike does have a title, you want to get that at the time of the sale as well.
Make sure all the paperwork has the VIN marked on it. You will usually find it located on the steering neck, while some have it on the motor near the bottom of the cylinders.
What you really need are a title, tag, and registration
That’s where Dirt Legal comes in. Making things street legal is what we do. Contact us or visit our Dirt Bike Conversions page to see how easy it is to make your dirt bike street legal.
We will work with the DMV to ensure that your dirt bike is street legal to drive on public roads. You’ll get a license plate, title, and registration quickly and effortlessly. Just add some street legal parts, like blinkers, and you’ll be set.
No hoops and no hidden clauses – just you, your street legal dirt bike, and the open road.
Has this ever happened to you?
Do you regularly ride your dirt bike on the road? Has it ever been taken by the police or have you ever encountered any legal trouble? We would love to hear about your experiences and what you think of the latest crackdowns.
Tell us in the comments below, and remember, we are not attorneys and this is not legal advice.
Dirt biking remains a vibrant and evolving culture as we head into 2025. Gas-powered bikes continue to see steady, incremental improvements, while electric dirt bikes are rapidly advancing with lighter components, longer battery life, and impressive torque. Legislative efforts like House Resolution 906 aim to empower riders with the right to repair their own vehicles, fostering independence within the community. Despite restrictive state regulations, dirt biking culture thrives, with growing sales and creative solutions like Montana LLC registration ensuring riders can hit the trails legally. The future of dirt biking is a blend of tradition, innovation, and resilience.